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This summer I'm going to China, Korea, and Japan.

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i've that kind of experiences in the non-technology-savvy areas of south korea. that was exactly ten years ago and my brother visited there last summer (his fourth visit and he's 20 while i'm 22 and i only visited there twice), he said everything is changed now. south korea is now a technology-savvy country. 🙁
 
yes it's all true...

My story: I got diarrhea while on a bus trip to the great wall. I held it in! that 7 hours trip was unbearable. I found only 1 clean restroom with a regular toilet. Toilet paper and working sinks. That's out of the like 8 I looked at and I didn't even go then because I decided just to go home and let it out.

Y'know they actually take your money at some places so you can squat? wtf!? ugh I'm chinese and it's really disgusting coming from the U.S.

I stayed at my grandparents house and they had actual toilets so not too bad.

#1 bring toilet paper
#2 bring sanitizer.
#3 do it before you go even if you have to make yourself do it!
#4 Either bring something that smells good or like air freshener in your bag that you can spray a lot of or simply practice holding your breath.
 
DO NOT DRINK LOCAL WATER OR TAP WATER!!!! Always drink bottled water and a brand that you know. I made the mistake of drinking tap water because i was super thirsty. Worst decision ever. If you are in a more modern and developed city in China, the bathrooms aren't AS bad as smaller towns. Bring lots of Imodium and Pepto, have fun!
 
I recently back packed China for 2 months.

The bathrooms are disgusting, but the squatting is not that bad at all once you "find your squat" and this is coming from a guy who has never traveled before and dove into China with nothing but a backpack and a few bucks.

You'll get used to it, and I actually preferred it at times believe it or not.
 
Also fuzzybabybunny I sent you a PM. If you have any questions let me know. I'll answer whatever you need in anyw situation and honestly.

There wasn't a thing I didn't experience there, from sleeping in 5 star hotels, to peasant houses who didn't speak English, but gave us a place to sleep since we missed trains or things of that nature.

Squatting is a huge part of the Chinese life.

[edit]

Oh yes I also HIGHLY recommend staying in hostels.

They always have western toilets, and western food, they're really cheap and always a great time. I can recommend some if you let me know where you're going to be going.
 
Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
This was written by someone who had gone of the trip last year:

The bathrooms in China were quite an experience. The concept of squatting to go to the bathroom made me a little hesitant to use the public bathrooms at first, but eventually it was necessary for me to learn to use them. Not only was squatting unpleasant, but the bathrooms themselves were extremely unsanitary, and very rarely had any toilet paper. In some cases, there were not even doors on the stalls. Many bathrooms also did not have soap to wash your hands, and a few did not even have functioning sinks. Overall, the bathrooms in China were the most disgusting and least sanitary bathrooms that I have ever experienced.

In Korea, the bathrooms did begin to improve. While ?squatters? were still the most frequently offered type of toilets, the bathrooms were much more clean and sanitary. Oftentimes, public bathrooms offered a limited number of ?western style? toilets. Unlike the public bathrooms in China, they were typically air-conditioned, each stall always had a door, and there was always soap and a sink provided. Overall, the standard of cleanliness improved tenfold in comparison to Chinese bathrooms. While not all bathrooms provided toilet paper, most did, and were much more sanitary.

In Japan, I saw the largest difference between the bathrooms in China and the bathrooms in Japan. Although squatters were still the most common type of public toilet, the bathrooms in general were very clean and always had at least one western style toilet. Toilet paper was always provided, even in the squatters. The most surprising difference, however, was the type of western style toilets offered. Almost every western style toilet in both the public bathrooms, and also in private homes, was very modern. Most had heated toilet seats and a sensor for flushing. There was also a ?control panel? on the right side of the toilet, which offered various forms of cleansing oneself. These toilets made me feel that the toilets offered in public bathrooms in the United States were almost primitive. Despite the presence of squatters, which I never grew very fond of, overall I was very impressed with the cleanliness and quality of Japanese bathrooms.
Click to expand...

No toilet paper, sinks, soap, and sometimes stall doors in China? This makes bunny sad, and somewhat queasy 🙁

Any pointers?
Click to expand...


I was there this past summer.

1) Go to expensive restaurants only (still cheap for us americans) where the restrooms are sanitary and do have bowls.
2) ALWAYS carry toilet paper with you, also bring hand sanitizer
3) Squatting is actually more sanitary that sitting on a toilet seat. But you gotta practice your horsestance in order to get the angles right. (I missed the hole more than a couple of times.... splattering yours pants with your own feces isn't cool)
4) Try to use the restroom at home/hotel room whenever possible
 
Hmmm... very interesting to me, as there is a possibility I may be going to China with a good friend who lived there until she was in her early 30's.... just depends on how the next 2 months go $$$-wise.
 
I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm expecting some high-res pics of these "squatting" bathrooms.

Just kidding. Thinking of looking at them alone makes me want to throw up.
 
when I was in China one of my friend's enjoyed taking us to nicer places and pointing out the rating systems of restaurants... and bathrooms. I will never forget hearing

"This is a 3 star Restaurant with a 4 star bathroom"

I didn't understand, but the place to eat was nice.. but that bathroom.. gorgeous. haha, But most bathrooms were just kinda crappy/poor... still the nice ones are nice.
 
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